Age: Seniors

Wallasey 4 Warrington 7 (L&D Senior)

Warrington’s senior team played Wallasey away at Guinea Gap pool another postage stamp size pool which Wallasey excel in. Warrington had only eight players, importantly with Peter Burke in goal vital to have a goal keeper of his calibre in such a small pool. James Williams scored first as Warrington attacked the deep end but the team and in particular Dave Price had a battle to contain the centre forward and stay in the pool. Danny Peek an excellent player from Wallasey scored twice to give Wallasey the lead at the end of the first quarter.

 In the second quarter it was close and tight with three minutes passing before Danny Peek scored again for Wallasey. Warrington kept calm with a powerful back hand shot coming from Tom Hadley. Dave Price still fighting a battle as pit defender was sent out but some excellent defending by the whole team kept Wallasey from adding further goals and promptly went on the attack and Tom Hadley scored his second goal of the game. The second quarter ended 3-3 all to play for!

It was important to start off well in the third quarter and keep the momentum going. Warrington did that with a goal from Tom Cart and took a 3-4 lead, but then had a battle in defence as Wallasey attacked the deep end. Warrington had three players excluded during this quarter but worked hard not to concede a goal. The whole team including James Collins and Josh Regan defended really well, consequently the quarter ended 3-4 to Warrington.

In the fourth quarter Warrington continued to attack and took the game by the scruff of the neck. Tom Hadley nearly broke the back of the net giving Warrington an important two goal cushion. Both teams then had a player each excluded although the power plays were not converted.  Wallasey’s John Hamilton then scored bringing the difference to one goal with two minutes to play. Warrington continued to attack and a goal from close range came from James Collins (15) I believe his first senior goal. Again a two goal gap surely the points are ours. James Collins made sure with his second senior goal on 7’ 57secs making it Wallasey 4 Warrington 7.

Man of the match was Dave Price for some excellent defence.

Warrington’s Team included Peter Burke (GK), James Williams (1), Tom Hadley (3), Ian Musgrove, Dave Price, Tom Cart (1), Josh Regan, and James Collins (2).

Warrington 6 Liverpool 8 (Snr)

Nine senior players took on a twelve strong Liverpool side with two Warrington goal keepers abroad on business Ian Musgrove played three quarters at No 1 and Lee Chadwick played the final quarter. Warrrington lost the toss and Liverpool elected to defend the deep. The game started well with a goal from Tom Hadley after 2 minutes. Liverpool took their chances attacking the shallow and replied with two goals before Addison Brown hit back. Towards the end of the quarter Liverpool snatched another but at 2-3 the game was finely balanced.

Liverpool attacking the deep a physically strong and large team was a handful to mark in the deep end particularly at centre forward position and scored some great goals in a powerful demonstration of shooting. Ian Musgrove played exceptionally well in goal but could not stop two goals in two minutes from Liverpool. James Williams (17) was turned by a Liverpool player about twice his age and size, and was sent out when he tried to tackle from behind. Liverpool added a further goal during the power play. Warrington gave away two further major fouls but managed to defend the man downs and Addison Brown added a goal near the end of the second quarter. With the score at 3-6 it was going to be up hill from that point.

Warrington dug deep in the third quarter Addison Brown scoring quickly with his third goal of the game and then Liverpool had a player excluded at last a major given against Liverpool! Warrington took advantage and scored within twelve seconds. That took the score to 5-6. Liverpool was certainly not going to give up and struck back with another goal. Two further major fouls were given by the referee one against each team but neither chance’s were converted and the third quarter ended 5-7.

The final quarter saw Warrington attack the shallow with hopefully lessons learnt from the second quarter when we last attacked the shallow and lost the quarter 3-1. Within the first three minutes Liverpool had two players excluded the first exclusion was not converted however the second was with a goal by Tom Hadley. That took the score to 6-7 with plenty of time left in the quarter. It was still an uphill battle attacking the shallow and defending the deep. The game stayed at stalemate until after 5.31 a Liverpool player sprinted across the 2 metre line and received a pass from 5 metres and slotted the ball into the corner. With the score at 6-8 Liverpool parked the bus across the shallow end goal and no further goals were scored.

The nine players of Warrington had given the probable league winners a close game and this was an excellent game to watch. Addison Brown was man of the match having scored four goals and Ian Musgrove performance in goal was also worthy of mention.

My thanks to Paul Hadley and Tracey Williams who at short notice officiated on the table for us and did a great job, thank you.

Warrington have two more games left this season with Wallasey away on Monday 29th October and a final game at Southport on 12th November.

Warrington Team: Ian Musgrove, Tom Hadley (2), James Williams, Addison Brown (4), Dave Price, Tom Cart, Martin Bosson, Josh Regan, Lee Chadwick.

Warrington 15 Southport 9

On Wednesday 3rd October Warrington seniors played Southport in the Liverpool & District League at Great Sankey. Southport were returning to the league after being absent for several years with a mixture of experience and younger players coming through. Warrington had a full squad of thirteen players and after winning the toss elected to defend the deep.  The start of the first quarter  saw Warrington struggle to contain Southport’s Centre Forward and the referee seemed generous with his exclusions. Consequently Southport soon took a 2-0 lead. Tom Cart stopped the rot scoring into the shallow end but almost immediately Dave Price was excluded and within 2 seconds Southport had scored a third. The quarter ended 3-1 to Southport and much to talk about in the break.

The second quarter was much improved Warrington playing with a defender just in front of their centre forward restricted Southport to one goal but this was Warrington’s quarter taking Southport on the counter attack and goals coming from Dave Price (2), James Williams, Tom Hadley, Addison Brown, Peter Burke, and Martin Bosson. Warrington won the quarter 7-1 and lead 8-4 overall.

At the start of the third quarter Warrington were looking to remain in control of the game and started off well with a goal from Addison Brown. The referee continued to exclude players with total of 5 exclusions, 3 for Warrington and 2 for Southport and Dave Price collecting his 3rd exclusion foul was wrapped up and off for an early shower!

Warrington however continued to increase their goal tally with goals from Rafik Tahraoui, James Williams and Tom Hadley. The third quarter finished 12-6 to Warrington.

In the fourth quarter Tom Hadley scored his third goal of the match to make it 13-6 then for four minutes no goals and no exclusions, with Warrington had plenty of chances but little to show for it. With 4 minutes 38 seconds on the clock Addison Brown scored his third goal of the match making it 14-6. Southport rallied slightly at the end with three goals in a minute but Warrington struck back with a goal from Lee Chadwick, the game finished 15- 9 to Warrington.

Man of the Match Tom Hadley

Warrington Team included:-

Neil Mugrove (GK), Lee Chadwick (1), Dave Price (2), Martin Bosson (1),  Jame Williams (2),

Rafik Tahraoui (1), Tom Hadley (3), Tom Cart (1), Ian Musgrove, James Collins, Peter Burke (1),

Addison Brown (3) and Josh Regan.

Bridgefield 8 Warrington 9

The senior team continued the Liverpool and District season when they visited Austin Rawlinson Pool in Speke to play Bridgefield. In our home match earlier in the season Bridgefield were 7-4 winners and will expect to finish 1st or 2nd in the league this year. The game started off well with goals from Ian Musgrove and Tom Hadley.  However Bridgefield came back into the game with two goals and just to keep the game interesting Warrington missed a penalty. Warrington’s goalkeeper Neil Musgrove played exceptionally well from the first quarter to the third when Peter Burke went in goal for the final quarter.  

In the second quarter we expected Bridgefield to hit us hard on the counter attack into the deep end. However Warrington took control of the game, carefully setting up the arc and goals coming from Bryn Edwards (2) and Tom Hadley (1). The opposition were not going to settle for second place with two goals. The quarter ended with a slender lead to Warrington 4-5.

The third quarter saw Warrington attack the deep, Bridgefield had two players excluded during the quarter but Warrington failed to execute the power play. However Tom Hadley scored two goals with Bridgefield starting to look a little tired could only reply with one goal giving Warrington a two goal lead (5-7). James Collins (15years) playing in one of his first senior matches was faultless in defence and supported every attack. The goals will be coming soon James!

The fourth quarter we had a change with Peter Burke going into goal and Neil Musgrove playing out. Within 23 seconds Bridgefield snatched a quick goal and at 6-7 were we about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. James Williams settled the nerves with a goal and we had our two goal cushion again. Surely victory was in sight. Four minutes into the quarter Neil Musgrove needed a blow, but Lee Chadwick was so keen to get in that he entered the water using the ‘bomb’ technique before Neil could get to the side. Lee in accordance with the rules was excluded for the rest of the game and a penalty was awarded to Bridgefield which they converted making the score 7-8.

At that point I had to enter the fray which was not part of the script for the evening.  Warrington conceded another exclusion which was defended before Bryn Edwards scored with 2 minutes to go, again a 2 goal difference. On 5’20 Tom Hadley was about to take the free throw before he could do this an opposition player knocked the ball from his arm and promptly went through to score. Players are not normally allowed to interfere with a free throw but we still had a one goal lead.  On 6’ 48 the referee excluded another Warrington player again the team rallied to defend the power play. Eventually the final whistle and the final score 8-9 to Warrington.

Although the team was full of young players, Bridgefield were heard to comment later on the excellent juniors coming through at Warrington. However man of the match went to Neil Musgrove for his display in goals in the first three quarters.

Scorers Tom Hadley 4, Bryn Edwards 3, Ian Musgrove 1, James Williams 1.

Warrington 4 Bridgefield 7

On Wednesday 11th July Bridgefield who are hot favourites to win the L&D league this season visited Sankey Forum, in a match not for the faint hearted. Warrington without Bryn Edwards, Geoff Dover and Tom Hadley (away in Hungray), were bolstered by new arrivals Martin Bosson and Addison Brown. The first quarter saw Warrington defend the deep end and started well with Adam Marsland scoring first. Warrington held the lead for only 30 seconds before Bridgefield equalised. Warrington with a new mix of players were taking time to start playing as a team and Bridgefield exploited this and some light weight marking with three quick goals. It was also clear the referee was prepared to let a lot go and only gave two majors throughout the match both given against the youngest player in the pool James Williams.

The second quarter was really tight with Addison Brown scoring his first goal for Warrington and Bridgefield once again equalising. Warrington tested the Bridgefield goalkeeper repeatedly but with little to show for it. The quarter ended 2-5.

The third quarter was crucial the difficult job of defending the deep and attacking the shallow end which usually results in defeat for most teams. Ian Musgrove set the quarter up with an excellent goal bringing the score to 3-5. Warrington continued to hold the line with some great goal keeping from Peter Burke and determined defence from the rest of the team. Warrington could be proud of one of the best quarters of the season.

Bridgefield were on the back foot as Warrington attacked the deep only two goals down. Almost two minutes passed without score before a big kick against a Warrington player (missed by the referee) saw a Bridgefield player break free and score against the run of play. It really looked like we had a mountain to climb. A disputed penalty saw Bridgefield take a 3-7 lead but Warrington didn’t give up and Martin Bosson eventually getting some reward for his hard work in the pit skilfully making some room to score from 3 metres out.

In summary with the exception of the first quarter when Warrington needed to settle in the new players against an organised Bridgefield the last three quarters were 3-3. Although disappointing to lose the match Warrington made Bridgefield work hard for their victory with a full team I would expect a closer match in future. Scorers were Adam Marsland 1, Addison Brown 1, Ian Musgrove 1, Martin Bosson 1. The team also included Peter Burke, Neil Musgrove, James Williams, Lee Chadwick. Phil Smith, and Tom Cart.

The season continues in September.

Chris Byrne Water Polo Head Coach

Bridgefield Blues 16 - Warrington 9

The senior team played their second game of the season against last years runner up in the Liverpool & District League, Bridgefield Blues who are the best team of the two Bridgefield teams and currently play in Divisdion 3 of the National League. We had many players away on holiday but had a strong first 7 with two young substitutes Rory Gregson (16) and Josh Regan (15).

Warrington started well with three excellent goals including a Tom Hadley back hander from the pit position which left the keeper with no chance the execution being world class. Bridgefield got two goals back but Warrington were certainly the better team in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw some sloppy passing by Warrington and an organised well drilled Bridgefield took advantage and their strength in depth started to tell. At the end of the second quarter Warrington trailed 7-5.

The third quarter saw Warrington go further behind despite Neil Musgrove saving a penalty at the end of the quarter Warrington trailed 12-6. In the final quarter Warrington rallied with two goals from Andy McGinty and a third goal from James Williams but ended loosing the match 16-9.

In the after match debrief it was agreed that the lack of depth in our team and a lack of match fitness compared to Bridgefield who had just arrived back from a training camp were the big difference between the teams. Scorers were James Williams 3, Andy McGinty 3, Bryn Edwards 1, Tom Hadley 1, Tom Cart 1.